California’s historic La Valencia Hotel & spa is set to open a 3,500sq ft wellness sanctuary, as it transforms a 1905-era ocean-facing bungalow into Spa La V, a sensory experience spa and garden.

Located in the San Diego-area town of La Jolla, the hotel was built in 1926 and features 114 bedrooms. Its signature pink exterior and tower have earned it the nickname ‘Pink Lady’, and it sits overlooking the Pacific coastline and La Jolla Cove.

The spa will feature six treatment rooms, including two couples’ suites, as well as a tranquillity lounge with fireplace and intimate Zen deck overlooking a private garden planted with native plants.

Connected via a walkway to the sea on the north side of the hotel, the indoor/outdoor oceanview spa will embrace its garden and balconies as treatment spaces, promote social spa-ing and feature results-oriented wellness and beauty therapies.

“Spa La V is an idea whose time has come,” said La Valencia’s managing director Mark Dibella. “Today’s travellers – and the local membership that is sure to build – expect a spa experience that is founded on a solid wellness philosophy and that also celebrates what’s special about its location.”

Spa La V has also partnered with Joanne Berry and Wellness Education Hub for its Elevated Education.

Spa industry veteran Dana Stallings – who has owned the Spa Velia Day Spa in San Diego for 14 years – has been named director of spa.

Newly appointed as one of 85 international ambassadors for Global Wellness Day, an annual celebration of wellness education, Stallings also is a co-founder of IConnection, a Southern California spa association that spearheads education, community action and special events.

Before launching her own business, Stallings served as a spa director for luxury resorts such as La Costa Resort, and was also a senior spa consultant for Creative Spa Concepts for 10 years, opening spas around the US.

“We wanted something more than just a pampering amenity at our landmark hotel, and that is why we called on Dana to lead this new wellness offering at La V,” said Dibella. “With an industry veteran at the helm who is dedicated to the guest experience; an amazing site as a location and such a health-oriented community surrounding it, Spa La V is sure to be a success.”